SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Future members of New Mexico’s utility regulatory agency will need to meet increased qualifications for the $90,000-a-year job under legislation unanimously approved Thursday by the House.

The proposal, which heads to the Senate where there is a competing measure, will carry out a directive from voters in a constitutional amendment approved last year.

The bill will require future candidates for the Public Regulation Commission to have a combined 12 years of professional experience or higher education in a field related to the regulatory agency, such as economics, accounting, engineering, finance, law, earth sciences and government administration.

The standards will not apply to the current five members on the commission. Continuing education also would be required of commissioners, who now need only to be 18 years old and state residents.

Under the legislation, current and future commissioners won’t be paid if they fail to Login to read more